
I Balance-Measure System 



FOR CUTTINU 

Coats, Vests, Pants, Cloaks, and Shirts, 

WHICH WILL VARY SYSTEMATICALLY TO FIT NINE DIFFERENFLY- 

SHAPED-SHOULDERED MEN, AND PRESERVE AS TRUE A 

BALANCE AS FOR THE MOST PERFECT FORM, 

INVENTED BY 

ai^ W. BROOK A\\^ AY, 

OF NEW YORK, 



BAKER & GODWIN, PRINTERS, 

PKINTING-HOUSE SQUARE, OPPOSITE CITV HALL. 

1864. 




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THE GREAT 



Balmce-Measure System, 



FOR CUTTING 

Coats, Vests, Pants, Cloaks, and Shirts, 

WHICH WILL VARY SYSTEMATICALLY TO FIT NINE DIFFERENTLY- 

SHAPED-SHOULDERED MEN, AND PRESERVE AS TRUE A 

BALANCE AS FOR THE MOST PERFECT FORM, 

INVENTED BY 

'''■ i 

OF NEW YORK, 





ftbj fork: 

BAKER & GODWIN, PRINTERS, 

FBINXnirG -HOUSE SQUABE, 0PF03ITB CITY HALt, 

; '' \ 1864. 



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Entered, according to Act of Contrjss, iu tUe year 1854, 

Ey w. brockaway, 

in tho Clerk's Office o the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York. 



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BALANCE-MEASURE SYSTEM. 



Pew people are aware — even among those considered 
masters of the Trade — of the immense labor necessary to 
produce a new work on Cutting which will excel all others 
that have been invented. The author, aware of this, hesitated 
long in the undertaking ; but becoming acquainted with most 
of the systems of actual measurement, and seeing their in- 
efficiency in establishing the thing aimed at — a good and 
easy fit — except when used by experienced men ; and finding 
that those called Division were incorrect in theory as well 
as in practice, and that no system now in use meets the 
wants of the practical cutter, and that those that were 
philosophically correct lacked simplicity to such an extent 
as to almost preclude the possibility of their being used 
with safety by men of experience, has induced him, after 
eighteen years' practice in cutting all kinds of garments to 
produce a work on cutting superior to all others that have 
been offered to the public, and which, for simplicity, has 
never been surpassed. 

The knowledge of many will incline them to think these 
remarks egotistical, and they may be induced to say, as I 
have said, after examining a number of systems on cutting, 
that none can be correct for all kinds of shapes, and that 
the cutter must vary as his judgment dictates to suit irreg- 
ular forms if he used division ; and if actual measurement, 
he must recollect how tight "and how loose he draws the 
measure ; and, consequently, there can be no certainty with- 
out experience. But the author has observed that, asno 



two men are alike in feature, so no two agree in shape, not- 
withstanding that every man does not need a differently- 
shaped coat any more than every man needs a differently 
shaped hat or boot. But men of the same size do fre- 
quently require a differently shaped coat. One man may 
be round-shouldered, but neither high nor low ; another 
round and high, another round and low. One is straight, 
and neither high nor low ; another is straight and high, an- 
other is straight and low ; and another is swayed back, and 
neither high nor low ; another is swayed back and high ; an- 
other is swayed back and low. 

Here are nine differently shaped shouldered coats, and all 
that it is necessary to know is how to fit to suit every variety 
of form. There is, of course, a variety of sizes, but if there 
is any more than these nine differently shaped shouldered 
men, they do not need the coat cut to fit them, but require 
the use of wadding to fill up the irregularity, for they are 
deformed. 

My system will vary, systematically, to suit those nine 
differently-shaped shouldered men, and presei've as true a 
balance as for the most perfect form. 

It has been frequently remarked that, if a coat is cor- 
rectly balanced for a perfect form, it will fit well though it 
may be two or three sizes too large ; but, coats for irregular 
forms must be the exact size, or there will be no fit to them. 
But my system will cut coats for all of the differently 
shaped men, and balance them so true that you can cut 
them almost any size, and still have them fit elegantly ; and 
you will not fail to notice that this is what is most needed; 
for, while the individual who stands erect may not be dis- 
pleased with a snug-fitting coat, still the man who stoops, 
having been so frequently pinched in scye, that he imme- 
diately throws his arms forward, while the one who stands 
erect, as a usual thiug, finds his coat sufficiently loose. 



The first five tables on the square are use(i for draught- 
ing vests ; the whole six are used for draughting coats. In- 
stead of the figures being double, they are single on tables 

1, 2, and 3 ; the figures run 1, 4, 8, 1, 5, meaning 21, 24, 
28, 31, 35 ; on table 4, they run 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0, 1, 

2, 3, 4, 5, meaning 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, SO, 81, 
82, S3, 84, 35. Tables 5 and 6, they commence at 21 and 
run to 35 ; on the short arm of the square there are four 
tables ; at table 1 you notice three sixes, meaning 26, 36, 
46; second table, three sixes and two ones, meaning 26, 31, 
36, 41, 46 ; tables 3 and 4 commencing at 26 and running 
to 46. 

DIRECTIONS FOR TAKING THE MEASURE. 

1. Measure breast over prominent part. 

2. " waist. 

3. " height of collar. 

4. " from socket bone to bottom[of scye. 

5. " to waist. 

6. }3ack tack. 

7. Bottom of skirt. 

8. Bring measure from socket bone to hollow of waist. 

9. Across shoulder-blade to center of back. 

10. To socket bone — this is called Balance Measure No. 1. 

1 1 . Bring end of tape in left hand, to center of back, be- 

tween shoulders, and bring the measure in front 
of scye, back to same place, about tight enough to 
sit smooth ; this is called Measure No. 2, or the 
second balance measure. 

12. Width of back. 

13. To elbow. 

14. To hand. 

15. Round the hand and over thumb joint. 



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PANTALOON MEASURE. 



1 . 1 to 3, length of pants. 

2. 6 to 8, inside seam. 

3. Round the waist. 

4. Inside hip. 

5. Forward hip. 

6. Thigh. 

7. Knee. 

8. Foot. 



VEST MEASURE. 

1. Balance Measure No. 1. 

2. " " No. 2. 

8. Length of vest from collar seam. 

4. To hip joint. 

5. Length of roll. 

Having measured your customer loose for Balance 
Measure, you will select table one size less than measure to 
draught by, if you wish the draught to agree with measure, 
in cutting body coat, and the same measure overcoat ; one 
size less to cut vest by. In draughting for over surtout or 
sack, if much wadding is used, select two sizes larger than 
coat measure. 

Back, Diagram A. 

Line A, is the base line. Apply the measure from 1 to 
2, or length of waist; to 3 as back tack ; 4 skirt ; from 3 to 5 
is table 2. Place the corner of square at 1, throw the long 
arm to 3, and draw line B. From 3 to 10 is table 2, throw 
long arm of square to 10, and draw line C. From 1 to 6 is 
table 5 ; G to 7 is table 2 ; draw line D and E square with 



line B. From 7 to 8 is table 5, or width of back ; 1 to 9 is 
table 3 ; draw line F from 8 to 2 ; measure down line F^ 
table 4, and dot it. Form the shoulder seam, back scye, 
side seam, and back skirt, according to taste or fashion, and 
you are ready to cut. 

Forepart, Diagram B. 

Draw line G and H at top and bottom of back scye ; put 
corner of square at G, and mark on base line, table 4 and 
table 6 ; from 4 to 5 is table 2 ; from G to 6 is table 

4, or 5 and 4 ; from 7 on back, from G to I, is table 

5, or the distance from 1 to 6 on back, from which you 
will draw line I. Lay your square at bottom of line 
in front of scye, and measure table 6 to 8 on line 
I. From 8 to 9 is tables 4 and 2, from 9 draw line 
J; from 9 to 10 is tables 4 and'2; from 7 to 10 is table 
5, or the size of breast, adding about 3 inches for a person 
of medium size, for fullness over the breast. On line K to 
12, table 4 to 13, table 3. Lay line B of back to 13 and 8, 
and form neck gorge, scye, and shoulder-seam, taking table 1 
off at lower shoulder point, and shaping it half-way midway 
shoulder-seam. 

From bottom of side-seam to line L, is table 3 ; from 5 
to 14 is table 4; from 2 to 15 is table 4. Draw line M, 
and form cut-off at waist, and shape the breast according to 
taste or fashion. 

If the man is round-shouldered, or stoops, so that the 
measure from top of back to bottom of scye is ^, f , or one 
inch more than table 5, it will throw line I forward the 
same, pitch point 13 further forward, reduce point 11, and 
carry point 3 a little nearer the line. Point 12 will be car- 
ried the same distance further front, and point 13 carried off 
the same. By the above plan of draughting, every point is 
governed by mathematical proportions. 



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If the person is swayed back ^, f , or 1 inch, all of these 
points will be reversed. 

To liaise a Coat in Neck without increasing size of Scye 
or Shoulder. — As much as you raise point G, carry it for- 
ward ; point 6 the same ; off of lower shoulder point the 
same. To lower a coat in the neck without decreasing the 
size of shoulder or scye, all these points will be reversed. 

Skirt, Diagram C. 

Line A is base line measure length of skirt from 1 to 2 ; 
from 1 to 3 is table 3 j from 3 to 4, table 5 ; and 3 to 5, 
table 2. Draw line from 3 to 5 ; put corner of square at 4 
on line B, and draw line C from 2 to 6, tables 4 and 2. 
Shape skirt according to taste or fashion, bearing in mind 
that whatever you drop on point of forepart below line L, 
you must take off of skirt from 7 to 8. 

Sleeve, Diagram D. 

Line A is the base line; square line B without moving 
the square; dot tables 1, 4, C, from which drav/ lines C, D, 
and E ; from line E to F, table 5 ; go out on line B, table 
3 ; C, table 2 ; D, table 5 ; go out on line H, table 1 . Erom 
1 to 2 on line D, is table 2 ; mark upper and underside 
sleeve-head, and form sleeve according to taste or fashion. 
When a coat is raised in the neck, as indicated by forepart, 
Diagram B, the sleeve-head will take the form as indicated 
by letter G, adding table 1 on line D, from 2 to 1. Great 
care should be taken that the underside of sleeve is not hol- 
lowed out too much by line G ; if so, the sleeve will seem 
too short when the customer raises his arm ; and also on 
the forepart, that there be room enough at 2, when the coat 



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is high ; and a little below, when it is low in the neck ; if not, 
the raising of the arm will make the sleeve seem short, even 
if you cut it almost any length. In measuring on back arm- 
seam, care should be taken that the sleeve is not measured 
too much on the round of back-arm ; if so, the sleeve will be 
cut too short, although it may agree with the measure. 

Frock-coat Skirt. 

From 1 to 2, length of skirt ; from 2 to 3, tables 2 and 
2 ; go out on line B, half size of waist, adding lappel ; di;aw 
line from 2 to 4. Lay corner of square at 4, short-arm on 
line B ; draw line C. From 4 to 5 is table 4 ; from 5 to 6 
is table 2. Shape skirt according to taste or fashion, bear- 
ing in mind that from 5 to 6 the measure should be care- 
fully applied ; and size here should be increased, and only 
here, if you wish a very full skirt for a large-waisted man. 

Pantaloon, Diagram E. 

Line A is base line. Apply measure at 1, extending it 
to 2 and 3. Draw line B, C, and D ; from 3 to 4 is table 
4 ; draw line E ; measure length of inside seam, and draw 
line F ; go out on line F, tables 5 and 3 ; at the point of 
table 5, put corner of square, and draw line G ; measure in 
on line B, ^ of waist measure, adding seam ; from 4 to 5 
is table 3; from 4 to 6 is tables 3 and 1. Draw line from 
5 to 7, and 6 to 8 ; form bottom fork and hip, and you are 
ready to cut. 

Underside. 

Lay the forepart on cloth, as represented, and shape it 
as represented, from 7 to 9 and 3, From 8 to 10 is table 3 ; 



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measure size at knee and foot ; add on underside, at waist, 
one-fourth the difference between size of lower hip and waist, 
unless the waist is larger, when you take off one-quarter the 
difference from underside ; sweep line H, by the measure, 
from 7 to 8 ; sweep line I by the distance from 1 to 8 ; 
form seat, inside seam, bottoms and tops, and you are ready 
to cut. For fair form, the waist should be 1-16 wTiole up- 
per-hip measure less than the upper hip ; and whatever 
the measure lacks of this, one-fourth of which will be the 
distance from 11 to 12, also from 13 to 14, and 15 to 16. 

Forepart of Vest, Diagram F. 

A is the base line and B the bottom measure up line A, 
from line B length of vest, deducting table 3. Draw line 
C, go down on line A, tables 4 and 4, and draw line D ; 
from 1 to 2 is table 4 and 3 ; from 2 to 3 is tables 4 and 1 ; 
from 3 to 4 is table 4 ; from 3 to 5 is tables 4 and 1. Go 
out on line D ^ the size of breast, and draw line E ; line F 
is table 3 ; from line E, from 6 to 7 on line F is table 4 ; 
from 4 to 8 is tables 4 and 2 ; from 9 to 10 is table 1 ; from 
11 to 12 is table 5, less table 4 ; 13 to 14, table 2 ; from 4 
to 15, table 3; from 15 to 16 J, difference between breast 
and waist; from 17 to 18, the same. Draw line G and line 
H; mark shoulder-seam, neck-gorge, roll, scye, side-seam, 
and you are ready to cut. 

Back of Vest, Diagram G. 

Continue line D across back, from forepart to 19, tables 
2 and 2 ; from 19 to 20, tables 4 and 3; from 20 to 21, 
tables 4 and 2 ; from 21 to 22, table 4, less 1 ; from 22 to 
24, table 3 ; mark top shoulder-seam, back scye, side-seam, 
bottom and back seam, and you are ready to cut. If the 



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man stoops J inch, you will add it on from 21 to 22 ; point 
4 will be carried forward the same and dropped the same ; 
point 3 dropped the same, and point 5 carried forward the 
same ; point 6 reduced, and the side-seam carried a little 
nearer the line, just below bottom of scye. If the person is 
swayed back |-, f , or 1 inch, all these points will be reversed. 
Form a straight or fair draught. 

Full Circular Cloak, Diagram H. 

Let cloth be thrown open, and nap run to the right. 
Measure length of cloak as from 1 to 2 ; from 2 to 3 is 
table 3 ; sweep length of cloak [and neck from 3. Drop 
point 4, table 1, and you are ready to cut. 

Three-quarter Circular Cloak, Diagram L 

Measure length of cloak for full circular, and from 2 to 
3 the same ; from 3 to 5, table 1 ; from 5, sweep bottom 
and neck gore, and drop point 6, and you are ready to cut. 

The cloak must'have a gore taken out over shoulder, 1 
inch by 3, or held tight over each shoulder, about 1 inch 
fall to keep the'cloak from falling off of shoulders. 

Wadding should not be used in cloaks to make them 
warm, as it is injurious'to the fit around the shoulders ; but, 
instead, use thick warm flannel for inside lining, or some 
thick goods for inside lining. See that the neck is not too 
much hollowed out ; [if it is, the cloak will sit off at collar- 
seam. 

Diagram G — Shirt, 
From 1 to 2 is table 4 ; to 3 is table 6 ; to 4 is table 4 ; 



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to 5 is table 2 ; from 1 to 6 is table 2 ; 6 to 7 is tables 5 
and 3 ; from 4 to 8 is tables 5 and 3 ; from 2 to 9 is table 
5 ; from 9 to 11 is table 2 ; from 2 to 12, and fr'om 3 to 13, 
a gusset put in to give ease about the neck. From 10 to 13, 
an opening lel't. 

Sleeve for Shirt — Diagram. 

From 1 to 2 is table 6, less 3 ; from 2 to 3 is table 3 ; 
from 1 to 4 is table 1 ; fr'om 4 to 5 the cloth is left without 
a seam ; fr-om upper part by 7, and under, by 8. 

In measuring for shirt, take size of neck, of breast, and 
shoulder over body coat, and select balance measure one 
size less, by which to draught the shirt. 



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THE GR&AT BALANCE MEASURE SYSTEM. II[VE^TEh BY U'-y RROCKAWAY OF jfBW YORK. 



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